Single fetal demise in twin gestation resulting in the resolution of severe pre-eclampsia.

A primigravida presenting with a twin pregnancy and severe pre-eclampsia which developed during early pregnancy is described. Complete resolution of symptoms and signs of pre-eclampsia were evident following the death of a growth-retarded single fetus. Pregnancy continued successfully until 35 weeks of gestation, when a single healthy infant was delivered. Few such cases of complete resolution of pre-eclampsia following the death of a single fetus are reported in the literature. The possibility that genetic susceptibility to pre-eclampsia is conferred by homozygosity for the same single recessive gene expressed by both mother and fetus is discussed.